Improvement



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N. PETERS, PNOTQQTHDGRAFHER. WASHINGTON. D. c.

fleurige STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEA PUSEY, OF PATTERSON, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT EN SELF-WAITING DlNlNG-TABLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 9,783, dated June 14, 1853.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I. LEA PUsEY, of Patterson, in the county of Juniata and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Self-Waiting Table; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

Figure l is a side elevation of the table; Fig. 2, a plan thereof, aportion of the top being removed to show portions more distinctly; and Fig. 3, a vertical section thereof in the line c: of Fig. 2.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The nature of my invention consists, rst,

in a self-waiting table constructed Vwith an endless band F situated beneath the table and kept in constant motion during meals by any power applied through the crank E or other means, to which band is firmly attached, at convenient distances apart, guiding-carriers b b, ttc., which pass up through and are supported by small railway-trucks d d, dre., and move in guiding-apertures e e, duc., in the top of the table, and uponthe tops of which are placed waiters c c, die., whereon dishes are put and constantly conveyed around before the guests on both sides of the table; and secondly, in placing an additional shelf or second table B over the central portion of the table above the waiters c c, v&c., for holding casters, die., which do not require to be frequently removed or replaced.

My self-waiting table is especially applicable to hotel and boarding-house diningrooms where many persons are to be waited upon., It is constructed in form like an ordinary table, in the top A of which, at a proper distance from each side, is cut a narrow aperture c of uniform width, extending nearly from end to end of the table, and around the ends thereof in a semicircle, as shown in Fig. 9. Under the table and directly beneath this guiding-aperture is situated a band F, which passes around upright shafts c c, and is.

caused to revolve by a crank E, attached to one of them and turned by hand or by any other means and power which may be convenient,sueh as steam or water. To this band, at convenient distances-say about eighteen inches-apart, are firmly riveted or otherwise attached metallic upright rods ZJ b, the., which project up through the guidingaperture e and reach a little distance above the top of the table. These rods, as carriers, support platters or waiters c c, &e., which are held thereon by means of sockets t' t', tbc., fitting upon their upper ends. The waiters should pass as near the top of the table as practicable for convenience in taking dishes or food therefrom. In order to take the Weight of the waiters and their contents from the band F and to keep them andthe band at a uniform height, I employ small railwaytrucks cl d, the., through one of which each rod h passes and rests on by a pin passing through it immediately over the top of the trucks, and which move on a railway or platform C, situated under the table A and travel above the band around the table. The wheels of said trucks revolve separately, as the outer ones are required to revolve faster than the inner ones in turning the ends of the table. The dishes containing the different kinds of food are placed upon the waiters by attendants stationed one at each end of the table and are made to pass thereon before the guests at such a rate that food can be conveniently taken from the dishes or the dishes from the waiters by any one, while at the same time the speed shall be sufficient to serve all withv readiness. In practice I lind that about twenty feet per minute is a suitable speed. The waiters are usually made of such a size that two or more dishes may be placed thereon, so that when a dish is taken from one waiter it may, after the guest has supplied himself therefrom, be replaced on some other waiter then passing before him.

In addition to the above-described apparatus, I also employ a shelf B, supported by posts fff, and situated only so far above the central portion of the table A as not to interfere with the dishes in the waiters. Upon this shelf or second table are placed casters, water, and such other articles as do not require to be frequently replaced or removed.

I intend also, when desirable, to have one or more pipes of suitable size and material to pass around under the edge of the table A near all of the guests, one to contain coffee, another water, the. Within the pipe forcontaining coffee or tea it would be Well to insert a smaller pipe through which hot water or steam should be caused to pass in order to keep the coffee, &e., hot during; the meal. A spigot situated before each guest will enable him at any moment to supply himself with eoifee, etc., without further trouble.

The advantages in economy of labor and convenience, impartiality, and prom ptness of attendance to guests of the above-described arrangement need no further mention to be readily understood and appreciated.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*

A self-waiting table constructed and arranged substantially as described-viz., having an endless band F situated beneath the table and kept in constant motion during meals by any power applied through the crank E or other means, to which band is firmly attached at convenient distances apart guiding'- carriers b b, Ate., which pass up through and are supported by small railway-trucks d (l, dsc., and move in guiding-apertures e e, die., in the top of the table, and upon the tops of which are placed waiters c c, ne., Whereon dishes are put and constantly conveyed around before the guests on both sides ofthe table, in combination with the said endlessband conveyers, placing an additional shelf or second table B over the central portion of the table above the waiters c c, tbc., for the purpose of holding casters, tbc., which do not require to be frequently removed or replaced, substantially as herein set forth.

The above specification 'of my improved dining-table signed and witnessed this 15th day of October, i852. A

LEA PUSEY.

Witnesses:

G. M. KULP, JAMES BooN. 

